Toyota Crown taxis to end service by the end of September

Once the king of the roads here, Toyota Crown taxis will be gone forever by the end of the month, reported The Straits Times. Only 349 of the vehicles remain today, a far cry from the model's heyday in 2006, when 19,000 such taxis - or eight in 10 of all cabs - plied the roads.

The taxis, known for being roomy and reliable, have been phased out because they cannot meet the stricter Euro IV emission diesel standards, which apply to vehicles registered after September 2006.

Taxis are allowed to be used for only eight years, so the last batch of Crowns registered before the stricter emission rules kicked in will have to be scrapped by the end of this month.

The iconic cab with its distinctive boxy design is among the first Japanese models to break into Singapore's taxi market. It first made an appearance here in 1982. Toyota distributor Borneo Motors said more than 32,600 Crown taxis have been sold since.

Cabbies still driving the Crown will be sad to see it go. The Crown's exit also denotes the end of the cheapest flag down fare here of $3, a rate companies could charge because the vehicles cost less to purchase. In addition, the demise means the end of the era when a single model dominated the taxi market. There are now at least 20 different taxi models plying the roads.